Diana Ross -- and her buoyant hair, and her glittering evening gowns, and her 24-karat songbook -- gave the crowd exactly what it wanted and needed at the Coca-Cola Classic Stage.

A huge audience of Ross fans collected in Linn Park for Friday's headlining set, which started shortly after 10 p.m. Excitement ran high when Ross emerged, beaming in a sparkly red dress with an oversize stole made of fluffy tulle.

Signs of age? Not really visible from a distance; Ross looked nearly as thin and glam at 64 as she did at 24, 34 or 44. Maybe it was her attitude of fabulousness that did the trick. Ross simply oozes 'tude, as everyone knows, and she used it to her supreme advantage at City Stages.

From a seat on the side of the stage, you could see several teleprompters installed to guide Ross through smash hits such as "I'm Coming Out," "My World Is Empty Without You," "Baby Love," "Where Did Our Love Go," "You Can't Hurry Love," "Touch Me in the Morning," "Love Hangover," "Love Child" and many more.

But no matter. Ross performed such songs in her silky, sexy voice -- always rather small compared to R&B belters -- and pranced and posed in a highly satisfying style.

For thrills to kick in, all she had to do was stretch out her arm and click her palm into position for "Stop! In the Name of Love," or vamp as her seven-member band played the instrumental bits. (It actually said "vamp" on the prompters.)

Three costume changes were included in her 70-minute show (red to silver to lime green to black) and they seemed neither outrageous nor gratuitous. Fact is, a Vegas-like fashion show is part of Ross' image, and an aspect of her enduring appeal.